staff writer

As a part of her Hoosier Hometown Tour, Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Jill Long Thompson stopped by the Greene County Daily World office for an interview Tuesday morning.

During the interview, Long Thompson explained her take on several matters such as tax reform, public education and economic growth.

If elected, Long Thompson would focus on all 92 Indiana counties as a part of economic growth and job creation.

"Unfortunately under the Daniels administration not only have we lost 30,000 jobs this year already the further you are from the center part of the state the greater the challenges," she explained.

Community leaders, like those in Linton, need a governor who recognizes the importance of small towns and cities, she said.

"I am committed to all small cities and towns," she added.

When it comes to public education, reform is the key according to Long Thompson

"I'm very committed to increasing the high school graduation rate," she explained, noting the importance of reforming No Child Left Behind and Public Law 221.

"Teachers need to teach to the needs of the children not to a standardized test," she added.

Reinvesting in vocational education is also a key component to increasing high school graduation rates, she said.

With ISTEP, many students are falling through the cracks and dropping, Long Thompson said.

Indiana's labor force holds a lot of promise for the future, she noted.

"With all of the demand for new sources of energy combined with research at universities and colleges there is so much promise for expanding the manufacturing base in solar and wind resources. I feel like the opportunities are almost limitless," Long Thompson explained.

When it comes to House Bill 1001-- property tax reform bill, she sees a problem.

"I think that Speaker (B. Patrick) Bauer got the best legislation he could to provide property tax reform for Hoosier families. But, it (House Bill 1001) is another example of Gov. Daniels pushing state problems onto local governments," she said.

House Bill 1001 is another reason why the Hoosier State needs new leadership at the top.

"I want to completely reform the tax structure which will also include funding streams for local as well as state programs," she said.

When Gov. Daniels says he hasn't raised taxes he has increased the sales tax, she added. Plus, Indiana is one of only seven states that has sales tax on gasoline.

"We need reform of the overall tax structure," she added, noting the importance of local government's input when making policy changes.

Part of that reform includes a tier approach.

The plan would categorize the state's 92 counties into three different economic tiers based on a variety of factors, including a county's unemployment rate, median household income, population growth and assessed property value per capita. Counties within each tier designation would be allotted different tax incentives to help grow and retain good paying jobs.

"Every county would qualify," she said.

Long Thompson is the first woman in Indiana history to receive the nominee for governor by a major party. If elected she will be Indiana's first female governor.

"I think I am prepared to lead the state and I just happen to be a woman. I feel very honored to be the first woman to receive the first major party nominee for governor...," she said.

Long Thompson served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 4th Congressional District from 1989 to 1995. Long Thompson spent more than five years as U.S. Under Secretary of Agriculture from 1995 to 2001. She received her B.S. in business from Valparaiso University and her M.B.A. and Ph.D. in business from Indiana University. A former educator, she most recently served as CEO of The National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy. Long Thompson and her husband Don Thompson, a commercial airline pilot, live on their family farm in Marshall County.

Long Thompson will face Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican, in the Nov. 4 election.